Book-support and desk



(No Model.)

H. J. HARRISON.

BOOK SUPPORT AND DESK. 110. 456,089. Patented July 14, 1891.

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` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. HARRISON, OF IVATERLOO, IOlVA.

BOOK-SUPPORT AND DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,089, dated July 14, 1891. Application filed December 19, 1890. Serial No. 375,216. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY .-I. HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterloo, in the county of Black Hawk and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Supports and Desks; andI do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

Figure l is a perspective View of a device to which I have applied my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of my invention.

My improvements relate to book-supports and writing-desks.

The objects of my invention are to provide a holder for the proper support and handling of books and a portable writing-desk, whereby light or heavy books may be kept open at any desired place and angle and provided with an index-pointer for the written or printed page. Y

The invention consists inthe following construction and combination of parts, which will be first fully described in connection with. the drawings and the points of novelty then set forth in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents the booksupport and desk.

l is the main frame or support for the book, which may be paneled, as shown, if

Y desired.

2 is the bottom ledge, which projects outin front of frame l, upon which the lower edges of' the book rest.

3 is a hinged bar, hinged at the bottom of frame l in the rear.

4 is a second bar hinged to the first bar 3 and carries a bar 5, projecting rearwardly atv right angles thereto. Y

6 is a pivoted brace-support hinged at the outer end of bar 5 and is pointed at its opposite extremity 7.

8 is a tooth-rack formed centrally in the rear'of frame l, within which the brace-support 6 adjustably rests.

The hinged bar 3 is hinged at its upper side to the frame l, and the two bars 3 and 4 are hinged togetherat theirlower edges. One of these bars may, however, be dispensed with, if desired.

9 is a casing secured to the back of frame l, near the top, containing a coiled spring or equivalent device.

l0 isa weighted ruler and pointer, which may be employed to hold the book open at the proper place to'point to the line or place desired, and, if desired, for ruling lines upon the book.

11 is a cord leading from opposite sides of the pointer 10 and connecting with the spring inside the casing 9. The weight of the pointer is such as to counterpoise the force of the spring, so that the pointer may be carried to any portion of the vertical height of the book and held there by friction of the cord lying upon the book and passing up over the booksupport.

The device is placed as shown in Fig. 2 to hold a book, the brace 6 and rack 8 permitting it to be held at any desired angle. By turning the book-support over and folding up the brace and bars against the frame my invention forms a very serviceable portable writing-desk. In this position the ledge 2 is underneath and props up the head of the desk, the back of frame 1 forming the face of the slanting desk, and the hinged parts 5 and 6 being folded flat down thereonl are out of the way when used for that purpose, as is alsothe spring-casing 9.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a frame having a booksupporting ledge thereon, a hinged extension attached to lthe frame and provided with a hinged prop at the outer end thereof, an intermediate piece between and hinged to said frame and extension, a rack upon the frameback, a casing having a spring therein attached to and lying flat against the fra1neback, a. weighted index-pointer and holder In testimony whereof Iafiixiny signature in extending across the front of the frame, and presence of two Witnesses. a cord connected at one end Wit-h the spring and at the other to the pointer, whereby the HENRY J. HARRISON. 5 latter may be placed and eounterbalanoed at diierentheights and the device reversed with Witnesses: said prop and extension folded back so that FRANK A. LABANC, the frame may be used as L slanting desk. J. E. SEDGWICK. 

